title: The evolution of the cardiac implantable electronic device connector.
abstract: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) play a vital role in the management of cardiac rhythm disturbances. The devices are comprised of two primary components: a generator and lead joined by a connector. Original pacemaker lead connectors were created de novo at the time of implantation or replacement and were very unreliable. With the development of new lead designs, creation of a standard connector configuration, the IS-1 connector became mandatory. Similar connector development also occurred with the advent of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), resulting in creation of the high voltage standard: the DF-1 connector. Differing from a pacemaker lead, the ICD lead connector requires one IS-1 connector and one or two DF-1 connectors, resulting in a large cumbersome lead connector and generator header block. Recently, a revolutionary quad pole single plug connector standard has been approved for market release. These are the single-pin DF4 and IS4 lead connectors that carry low- and high-voltage poles or all low-voltage poles, respectively. These connectors, together with new labeling guidelines, have simplified operative procedures and reduced errors, when mating lead connectors into the generator's connector block.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Department of Medicine, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Harry G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Mond
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Helland
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004867:Equipment Design; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D018511:Systems Integration